Electric water heater



Nov. 27, 1928.

C. J. SCANLAN ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed om. 23. 1925 npmdoz @Moz ne 11PATENT FFICE.

CHESTER J. SCANLAN, OF BLOOMNGTON, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

Application filed October 23, 1925. Serial No. 64,369,

This invention relates to an improved electric water heater and seeks,among other objects, to provide a simple and efficient device of thischaracter which may be readily attached to a supply pipe at a bowl orsink fory heating small quantities of water for domestic use. y f

The invention seeks, as a further object, to

rovide a device utilizing radiant heat for ieating the water, andembodying an inner heating chamber entirely surrounded, except at itsupper end, by a chamber for containing the water to be heated, so thatpractically all of the heat radiated will be. conserved for heating thewater.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device wherein theenergization of the heating element employed will, by means of a.thermostat, be indirectly controlled by t-he water temperature, butwherein no portion of the heating element or associated parts will bebrought directly in contact with Athe water. A Y And the inventionseeks, as a still further object, to provide a device embodying a novelcasing structure adapted to withstand. the stresses set up by expansionand contraction of the metal, wherein the electrical'parts of the devicewill be effectively housed and protected from moisture, and wherein saidparts may all be removed with the cover of the device, so that accessmay be readily had to said parts.

Other objects of the invention not specifically mentioned in theforegoing, will appear during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing my improved heaterapplied, parts being illustrated in elevation.

Figure 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form ofcasing joint.

In carrying the invention into effect, I employ a cylindrical innercasing 10, and a surrounding cylindrical outer casing 11 concentric tothe inner casing and somewhat longer. Both casings are preferably formedof copper tubing and the outer casing is also preferably nickeledexternally for reducing thermal losses. The casing 10 is rolled near itsends to produce an internal annularbead l2 adjacent the lower end ofsaid casing and an external annular' bead 13 adjacent the upper end ofsaid casing. Snugly fitting within the lower end of the casing 10 torest against the 12 is a lower endrplate 11i having a peripheraldownturned flange l5, and formed from the lower margin of said casing isa channel-shaped flange 16 tightly embracing the flange l5 to provide aclosed joint between the casing and said end piate. The upper end of thecasing l() is open and lies fiush with the upper end of the casing il.

v The casing 11 is likewise rolled to produce internal annular beads 1.7and 18 adjacent the ends of said casing, and fitting in the upper end ofsaid casing to snugly surround the casing 10 isan upper end plate 19abutting the bead 13 of the latter casing and the bead 17 of the formercasing. This plate is provided at its inner andjouter peripheries withupturned annular flanges 20, and formed from the upper margins of thecasings l0 and ll are channel-shaped flanges 21 tightly embracing saidfirst mentioned flanges to provide closed joints between the casings andthe said end plate. Thus, as will `be perceived, the casing l0 issupported within the casing 11 by the end plate 19. Fitting within thelower end of the casing l1 isy a lower end plate 22 which abuts the bead18 and is provided with a peripheral downturned annular flange 23, andformed from the lower margin of said casing is a channehshaped flange24k tightly embracing the flange 23to provide a closed joint between thecasing andl said end plate, As will be observed, the joints between theseveral end plates and the casings are all alike and it has been foundthat this type of joint will withstand the stresses set up by ytheexpansion and contraction of the metal of the casings and end plates.However, a joint as illustrated in Figure 3 may be employed, In thisfigure, one of the casings is typically illustrated at 25. This casingis rolled to provide an annular bead 26, and fitting in the casing torest against said bead is an end plate 27. Formed from the adj acent endmargin of the casing to engage over said end plate is an annular flange28, and this flange is preferably soldered to the plate to insure theprovision of a closed joint between thev casing and end plate.

It now to be observed that the casing 10 provides a heating chamber 29while the casing 11 provides a water chamber 30 entirely surrounding theheating chamber except at the upper end thereof, and extending throughthe lower end plate 22 axially of the Casing ll to communicate with saidwater chamber, is a tail piece 3l. This tail piece is provided with ashoulder 32, and screwed upon the upper' end ot' the tail piece to coactwith the end plate at its inner side is a nut clamping the tail piece inposition. ln Figure l ot' the drawings, l have shown my improved heatermounted upon a conventional wash bowl 34. This bowl is provided with theusual opening to accon'nnodate the tail piece 3l so that the shoulder 32of the tail piece rests against the bowl at its upper side, and screwedupon the tail piece to abut the lower side of the bowl is al nut 35rigidly `connecting the tail piece with the bowl for iirmly supportingthe heater upon the bowl. Screwed over the lower end of the tail piece3l is a coupling sleeve 3G to which a water supply pipe may be attachedin the usual manner, -and formed o n the forward side of the casing 1lnear its upper end is a nipple 37 into which is screwed an appropriatefaucet 38. Thus, water entering the chamber. 30 of the heater throughthe tail piece 3l may be drawnotiat the faucet. Disposed within theheating chamber 29 is a socket 39 which is preferably of porcelaim andwound about said socket is a length ot asbestos rope 40 torming ayieldable insulating jacket trictionally coacting with the casing forsustaining the socket as well as preventing the collection of moisturewithin the casing. Screwed into the socket 39 is a core all,y and woundabout said core is a heating element 42 of suitable resistance wire.

Removably fitting over the casing l1 at its upper end is a cap4 i3secured by a set screw 44 and provided axially of the casing lO with anopening having a surrounding flange. 45. Formed on the cap at its ine,-ner side is an arm i6 depending intoy the chamber 29. and bolted orotherwise fixed to said arm is the insulating base block 47 of athermostatic switch. Extending throughy the block near one end thereotis a terminal 48 to which is attached a thermostatic strip 49, andscrewed through the block near its opposite end is a terminal 50 tocooperate with the free end of said strip. The strip 49 and terminal 50`are preferably provided with coactingsilver contacts 5l while theterminal. is further equipped with nuts 52 locking said terminal inadjusted position, the terminal being adjustable for varying thetemperature at which the contacts are opened by the thermostatic strip.Snugly fitting within the flange l5 of the cap 43 is the lower section53 of an approved slip connector, the detachable upper section of whichis indicated at 5st, and'irmly connecting the lower section with the capis a set screw 55. Extending between the connector section 53 and thesocket 39 is a wire 56, and extending between said socket and theterminal 48 is a wire 57 while a wire 58 leads from the terminal 50bacl; to said section. Connected to the section 5l ot the connector is asuitable current supply lead 5l), and interposed in said lead is anappropriate switch (SO. The contacts 5l are normally closed so that, aswill now be seen, when the switch 60 is closed, the heating element 42will be energized. Accordingly, the casing l() will be heated forheating the water standing in the chamber 30 and, preferably the casingl() is coated at its inner side wit a dull jet black pigment so that amaximum ot' the heat radiated from the heating element will be absorbedby said casing and thus communicated to the water. By opening the faucet38, the heated Witter may, of course, be drawn from the chamber 30 andsince the heated water will rise in said chamber tosurround the casingl0 at the level of the thermostatic switch, the heated water will affectthe thermostatic strip of said switch so that should the temperature ofthe water rise above the predetermined point for which the thermostaticswitch is set, the strip 49 will be caused toL expand and open thecont-acts 51 for breaking the circuit through the heating element. Thepossibility of overheating ot' the device is thus eifectually overcome.As will be observed, the jacket formed b the asbestos rope 40 provides aheat resisting seal between the socket 29 and the casing l0 so that heatradiated by the heating element cannot rise upwardly in the chamber 29toy expand the thermostatic strip 49 and effect a false, actuationthereof.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. An electric water heater including inner and outer casings one,Lproviding a heating chamber and the other a surrounding water chamber, asocket disposed in said heating chamber, a core engaged in said socket,a heating element carried by said core for radiating heat to theV wallot said inner` casing, a thermostatic switch disposed in said heatingchamber and controlled by the telnperature of the water in saidwaterchamber 'or cle-energizing saidelement, and a length of insulatingrope wound around said socket to frictionally coact with said innercasing for sustaining thelsocket and forming ay heat resisting seal insaid heating chamber between said heating element and said switch.

2. An. electric water heater including inner and outer casings oneproviding a heating chamber and the other a. surrounding water chamber,the inner casing being open at its upper end, a heat-ing elementvdisposed in said heating chamber tor radiatingA heat to the wall of saidinner casing, a cap fitting over the outer easing and provided with anarm projecting through the open end of said inner easing into saidheating chamber, and a therinostatio switch mounted upon said arm andControlled by the temperature of the Water in said Water chamber forde-energizing said heating element.

3. In an electric Water heater, the combination of inner and outertubular casngs one providing a heating chamber and the other providing aWater chamber surrounding the heating chamber, end plates closing theouter casing, an end plate Closing the inner casing at one end, one ofthe end plates of the outer easing sup orting the inner easing at itsopposite end an said inner easing being open at the latter end thereof,a cap fitting over the outer easing and closing the inner casing at itsopen end, and a heating element disposed Within said heating chamber forheating the Wall of said inner casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto a'HiXed my signature.

CHESTER J. SGANLAN.

